Curriculum Vitae or Resume: Which One is Right for Me?

1. Curriculum Vitae or Resume:Which One is Right for Me? Anne Scammon, Director, Career Learning & Experience GW Career Center

2. Goals for today • What is a CV? • What does it include? • How is it organized? • How does it differ from a resume? • Where can I get help writing my CV?

3. VITA DEFINED • --a summary of one’s personal history and professional qualifications submitted as part of a job, graduate school, or internship application process

4. VITA FORMAT • No standard formula for preparing a vita • Designed around the strengths and achievements of the individual • Length determined by the unique experiences of the individual and the target audience for the vita

5. BASIC CATEGORIES • CONTACT INFORMATION • EDUCATION/TRAINING • EXPERIENCE • OPTIONAL CATEGORIES • REFERENCES

6. CONTACT INFORMATION Name Licensure abbreviations (with Name) Address Phone Number Email Address Website

7. EDUCATION/TRAINING • NAME OF DEGREE • DATE OF DEGREE (GRAD DATE) • NAME & LOCATION OF INSTITUTION • MAJOR/MINOR/CONCENTRATION(S) • OPTIONAL INFO • Relevant Coursework • Academic Honors • Study Abroad Experience

8. EXPERIENCE Can include: • PAID/NON-PAID • PART-TIME/FULL-TIME • INTERNSHIPS/PRACTICA • VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE • MILITARY • Variations • SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS • RELATED EXPERIENCE • ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

9. Organizing Experience • Chronological • Jobs organized by date, reverse chronological order • Stable employment record put in best perspective • Functional • Experiences grouped by functional skill areas • More flexible and creative format • De-emphasizes employment gaps • Combination • Combines the features of Chronological & Functional

10. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATION CONSULTING DESIGN FUND RAISING GRANT WRITING INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN ORGANIZATION PLANNING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT TEACHING TECHNICAL SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL HEADINGS

11. EXPERIENCE INCLUDE: • position title • name of organization • organization’s location • City & State or Country • Dates • Month & Year • duties/skills used/responsibilities • accomplishments/results

12. ACADEMIC PREPARATION CERTIFICATIONS COURSES TAUGHT CONSULTING ASSISTANTSHIPS/ FELLOWSHIPS INTERNSHIPS/ PRACTICA PRESENTATIONS PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS RESEARCH EXPERIENCE RESEARCH INTERESTS SERVICE ACTIVITIES Sample Vita Category Headings

13. Academic Preparation Academic Background Education/Educational Background Educational Overview Professional Studies Degrees Thesis Master’s Project Comprehensive Areas Dissertation Dissertation Title Professional Competencies Professional Highlights Course Highlights Proficiencies Areas of Knowledge Areas of Expertise Areas of Experience SAMPLE VITA CATEGORIES

14. Professional Experience Professional Overview Professional Background Teaching Experience Experience Summary Experience Highlights Research Experience Administrative Experience Consulting Experience Related Experiences Academic Service Professional Service University Service Faculty Leadership Committee Leadership Departmental Leadership Professional Activities SAMPLE VITA CATEGORY HEADINGS(CONTINUED)

15. Scholarly Presentations Conference Presentations Convention Addresses Workshop Presentations Programs and Workshops Conference Participation Conference Leadership Memberships/Affiliations Professional Memberships Professional Organizations Professional Certification(s) Certificates Licensure Special Training Teaching Interests Academic Interests Research Interests Educational Interests Professional Interests SAMPLE VITA CATEGORIES(CONTINUED)

16. REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST OR LIST ON SEPARATE SHEET Other options: Credentials, Dossier, Portfolio

17. REFERENCES • 3-5 References • Name & Title • Address • Phone Number(s) • Email (if used regularly) • Use Combination of References • Employment, Academic • Be Sure to Ask Permission

18. PERSONAL DATA(GENERALLY NOT INCLUDED) • MARITAL STATUS • CITIZENSHIP • CITY/COUNTRY OF BIRTH • BIRTHDATE • HEALTH • PHOTO • HEIGHT/WEIGHT • WILLING TO TRAVEL/RELOCATE

19. DO’S • BE CLEAR, CONCISE, CONSISTENT • POSITIVE • CREATE A “RELEVANCY GRADIENT” • HONEST • USE BOLD, UNDERLINE, AND/OR ITALICS TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN AREAS DON’TS • STATE SALARY REQUIREMENTS • GIVE REASONS FOR LEAVING EMPLOYERS • LIMIT GEOGRAPHIC RANGE • EXPOUND ON PHILOSOPHY • this may be a separate document • OFFER ANY NEGATIVE INFORMATION

20. COMMON MISTAKES • DISORGANIZED • POORLY TYPED/PRINTED • OVERWRITTEN • TOO SPARSE • NOT RESULTS ORIENTED • IRRELEVANCIES • MISSPELLINGS, TYPOS • DOESN’T MATCH OBJECTIVE

21. TIPS • KEEP ONE MASTER DOCUMENT • UPDATE IT REGULARLY • TAKE THE TIME TO TAILOR IT TO YOUR AUDIENCE • KEEP IT UNDER YOUR CONTROL

22. CV vs. Resume • Purpose • Resume = Marketing tool • CV = History of You • Content • Resume = succinct and relevant to reader • CV = broader in content but should maintain relevancy • Page Length • Resume = 1 page • CV = 3 pages and up

23. Career workshops / programs Consulting 48-Hour Critique Service Online Resources Mock interviewing Career Fairs Federal Work Study CCInfo Cooperative Education GWork Job listings On-Campus Recruiting Career Resource Room Experiential Education Career Center Services

24. Questions? GW Career Center 1922 F Street NW ~ (202) 994-6495 http://gwired.gwu.edu/career Monday - Thursday 8:30AM to 6:00PM Friday 8:30AM to 5:00PM